“DELAWARE AND MARYLAND” New York: Charles W. Morse and Samuel N. Gaston, 1857. Wax-engraved map, with original hand color from The Diamond Atlas.(Image: 5 x 6 ¼”)
This map depicts Delaware and Maryland with the counties named and in contrasting colors.
Topographical features are shown, and major cities, towns, canals and railroads (existing and proposed) are located. It is very detailed for its miniature size (50 miles per 1 ¼ inches). The inset depicts “Washington City”.
The wax-engraving method was developed by Sidney E. Morse (brother of Samuel F. B. Morse - inventor of the telegraph). Wax engraving was “a major techno-logical breakthrough that greatly influenced American commercial map and atlas production in the U.S.” (Schwartz: Mapping of America, p. 265). This map is an early example of the process.
Presented in an archival 11x12'' mat
